Black-Red coalition agreement: Opportunities and shortcomings for the bicycle industry

The trade association Zukunft Fahrrad has analysed the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD with regard to its significance for the cycling industry and cycling infrastructure. Wasilis von Rauch, Managing Director of Zukunft Fahrrad, welcomes the fact that the negotiating partners were able to quickly agree on a coalition agreement. In view of the major security policy, economic and social challenges, it is important for Germany to have a government capable of taking action as quickly as possible.

The association is positive about the fact that the coalition partners have prioritised new economic growth and want to support SMEs. In particular, von Rauch sees the planned special infrastructure fund as a correct and important step towards securing Germany's performance - also in the transport sector.

Opportunities for expanding the cycling infrastructure

The association is now calling for this opportunity to be utilised and for the federal, state and local governments to expand the cycling infrastructure. Von Rauch emphasises that 70 percent of everyday journeys are within cycling distance. There is no cheaper way to achieve safe, reliable and efficient mobility than by investing in cycling infrastructure.

In addition, the expansion of infrastructure represents a key economic boost for the cycling industry. The association believes that the cycling industry is ready to implement the positive approaches together with the new federal government.

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Criticism of the lack of targets for cycling

Despite the positive aspects, Zukunft Fahrrad also clearly criticises the coalition agreement. Overall, there are too many unresolved points. These include concrete measures and targets for cycling and the legal anchoring of company bike leasing. This is necessary not only to maintain Germany as a leading market for the bicycle industry, but also to expand it in the long term.

The association criticises the fact that the potential of cycling and the need for concrete measures were not recognised in the coalition negotiations. A single sentence on active mobility, stating that cycling and walking should be strengthened and promoted as part of sustainable mobility, is too vague. This would not do justice to the importance of the bicycle for modern mobility.

Does the bicycle benefit from infrastructure investments?

Zukunft Fahrrad emphasises that cycling infrastructure must of course be taken into account in the specific use of funds from the special infrastructure fund. The investment backlog is enormous, but could be solved by including it in the special infrastructure fund and the climate and transformation fund.

The federal states and local authorities must also utilise the new scope for investment in cycling infrastructure. In this context, the association welcomes the announcement that planning and approval procedures will be fundamentally revised and accelerated.

Climate protection & intermodality come up short

Zukunft Fahrrad criticises the fact that transport is not on the path to climate protection. The announcement that toll revenues would only be used for road transport and that the existing Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan would be retained did not do justice to the climate policy requirements in the transport sector. The opportunities offered by cycling for climate savings are not being utilised.

The association was also disappointed that intermodal transport was not mentioned in the coalition agreement. This refers to the linking of different modes of transport, which is a key component of sustainable and easily accessible mobility. This includes, in particular, the expansion of bicycle parking spaces at railway stations and stops.

Key topic: company wheel leasing

In the area of finance, Zukunft Fahrrad criticises the fact that functioning solutions such as company bike leasing have not been put on a legal footing. The association will work hard to ensure that company bike leasing is enshrined in the Income Tax Act before the end of this legislative period.

The association is also calling for a reduction in bureaucracy through flat-rate rules for the tax treatment of public transport season tickets for business and private use, sharing memberships and mobility budgets, as already exists today for company cars.

Criticism of one-sided promotion of e-mobility

The association feels that the purchase incentives for e-mobility in the automotive sector announced in the coalition agreement are inadequate. It is an imbalance not to open up such incentives to other electrically powered vehicles such as pedelecs.

Overall, according to the industry association Zukunft Fahrrad, the bicycle industry is missing from the various sectors of Germany as an industrial location. This is a missed opportunity and does not do justice to the importance of the industry for a sustainable mobility economy.

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